Department for Transport

Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern Rail Franchise

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will take direct control of the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern passenger rail franchise.

Paul Maynard: We have no plans to nationalise the franchise. However, as is the case with all train operating companies, performance is kept under constant review and the government reserves the right to take action if a company does not meet the terms of its franchise agreement.

Bus Services

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many bus services have been withdrawn in the top 10 most (a) rural and (b) urban parliamentary constituencies.

Andrew Jones: The Department does not collect any information on the number of bus services that have been withdrawn in each parliamentary constituency.

Railways: Disability

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that trains are accessible for wheelchair-users at unmanned railway stations when trains do not have conductors on board.

Paul Maynard: The train operating companies are required to make reasonable adjustments to allow disabled passengers to access their services under the Equality Act 2010. They are also required under licence conditions to participate in a pre-booking staff assistance system, where staff can be sent to a usually unmanned station or alternative transport, such as an accessible taxi, provided at no additional cost. Some train operating companies also provide other on board staff that can help passengers.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: South Yorkshire

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is considering any alternative routes for High Speed 2 through South Yorkshire in addition to a line through Meadowhall and the route east of Rotherham with a branch to Sheffield Midland Station.

Andrew Jones: The Government announced their preferred HS2 route in South Yorkshire on 15 November in High Speed Two: from Crewe to Manchester, the West Midlands to Leeds and beyond (Cm 9355). Our proposal is that HS2 should serve Sheffield city centre through a spur off the proposed HS2 line, enabling HS2 trains to run into Sheffield along the existing rail network. This proposal is currently subject to public consultation. In the process of making a final decision about the HS2 route in South Yorkshire the Government will take into account work that HS2 Ltd will have carried out, both in the past and more recently, into alternative routes to both the Meadowhall and M18 route.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: South Yorkshire

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the estimated cost is of the Meadowhall station and viaduct as part of one option for the High Speed 2 route through South Yorkshire; and whether that cost has changed since the original route was announced.

Andrew Jones: The financial case for Phase 2b, published in November 2016, set out that the cost of the route including Meadowhall station would be £858m higher than the option of serving Sheffield Midland station. This comparison in costs reflects estimates that have been updated for the Meadowhall route since they were originally produced.

M1: Exhaust Emissions

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2017 to Question 61251, what steps he is taking to ensure that when the smart motorway opens between junctions 32 and 35a mitigation measures to improve air quality will at least offset any additional pollution from the expected increase in traffic volumes.

Mr John Hayes: Smart Motorways are at the core of Highways England’s £15bn investment programme to transform England’s Strategic Road Network, helping to ease congestion and improve traffic flow. Keeping traffic moving reduces stop-start decelerations and accelerations, which in itself has air quality benefits. Highways England will announce any measures to improve air quality on the M1 between junctions 32-35a when the Smart Motorway scheme opens, which is expected to be in March 2017. Highways England has undertaken environmental assessments of the scheme during the design and construction. These are available on Highways England’s website.

Home Office

Immigration

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for (a) leave to remain outside the immigration rules and (b) indefinite leave to remain are awaiting allocation to a casework unit.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Data on UK Visas and Immigration temporary and permanent migration activities including In-Country Work In Progress Casework, and Percentage of Temporary and Permanent Migration in-country visa applications for each Route, processed within Service Standards, is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/temporary-and-permanent-migration-data-november-2016

Visas

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for standard visitor visas her Department received in each year from 2006 to 2016; and how many such applications were (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Information on the number of all visit visa applications, grants, refusals, withdrawals and lapsed cases is published quarterly; latest data in the Home Office’s ‘Immigration Statistics, July – September 2016’, table vi_01_q (visa data tables volume 1), available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-july-to-september-2016/list-of-tables#visas

Children in Care: Asylum

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help local authorities manage the arrival of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

Mr Robert Goodwill: In July 2016 the Government launched the National Transfer Scheme for unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) in order to ensure a more equitable distribution of UASC across the country and to prevent a small number of local authorities caring for a disproportionate number of UASC. In July 2016 we also significantly increased the funding we provide to local authorities who care for UASC by up to 33%. Further information on funding for local authorities can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/unaccompanied-asylum-seeking-children-uasc-grant-instructions Since its launch the National Transfer Scheme has successfully transferred unaccompanied children away from local authorities whose children’s services are under pressure. We continue to engage with local authorities across the country to encourage wider participation in the scheme.

UK Border Force: Finance

Mr Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what Border Force's budget for 2017-18 will be.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Allocations within the 2017/18 Home Office budget, including the Border Force allocation, remain subject to review and final Ministerial approval.

Immigration: Appeals

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the service standard is for the processing of First-tier Tribunal decisions by UK Visas and Immigration.

Mr Robert Goodwill: UK Visas and Immigration does not have a published service standard for processing appeals. Where the appeal has been allowed in favour of the appellant, the Home Office undertakes careful consideration of the judge’s determination in order to conclude whether to submit an application for permission to appeal within the time limits set by the Tribunal Procedure Committee. Details of allowed appeals which are not being contested by the Home Office are sent electronically on a daily basis to decision making centres, which arrange for appropriate follow on actions to be taken reflecting the Tribunal’s determination in each case. Where the appeal has been dismissed, appropriate actions are taken when it is known whether or not the appellant has sought and been granted permission to appeal.

Asylum

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications which included medical evidence of torture were rejected in each of the last three years.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many rejected asylum applications which included medical evidence of torture were subsequently overturned on appeal in each of the last three years.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications which included medical evidence of torture were received in each of the last three years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: I am sorry but the data requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost by examination of individual records.

Slavery

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will centrally publish the (a) companies who are required to report and (b) companies who have reported under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Sarah Newton: We are not currently planning to publish a list of businesses who are required to report or who have reported under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. A number of non-governmental organisations are already collating and monitoring statements from businesses that are required to report. We are considering whether any additional steps might be necessary to make this monitoring more consistent and transparent, without duplicating the work already undertaken.

Asylum: Children

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2017 to Question 63085, what recent steps she has taken to offer asylum to unaccompanied refugee children who are currently in Greece and Serbia.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Responsibility for processing asylum claims in Serbia and Greece, including those made by unaccompanied children, lies with the Serbian and Greek authorities. There are no provisions in our Immigration Rules for someone to travel to the UK to claim asylum.However, we are working with the Greek authorities, UNHCR and non-governmental organisations to identify children from Greece who may qualify for transfer to the UK under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 or the Dublin III Regulation. We have also seconded an expert to Greece to support these efforts.In addition, we have established a £10 million Refugee Children Fund for Europe to support the needs of vulnerable refugee and migrant children arriving in Europe. The fund supports three specialist and mandated organisations – the UNHCR, Save the Children and the International Rescue Committee in their work with host authorities to care for and assist unaccompanied or separated children in Europe and the Balkans.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Holiday Leave: Pay

Kevin Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to bring forward proposals to amend existing legislation as a result of the European Court of Justice judgment of 2006 on rolled-up holiday pay.

Margot James: The Government has no plans to amend current legislation as a result of this judgment. However, clear guidance on the issue is available on the GOV.UK and ACAS websites.

Industry: Trade Competitiveness

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential effects of making sector-by-sector deals with certain industries after the UK leaves the EU on the competitiveness of those industries' supply chains.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Industrial Strategy Green Paper, published on 23 January, proposes industry-led “sector deals” to enable sectors to maximise their productivity and competitiveness. The competitiveness of supply chains is proposed as a key component of sector deals.With regard to trade agreements, as my rt. hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 23 January, we will seek a bold and ambitious Free Trade Agreement with the EU. We want Britain to have the greatest possible tariff and barrier-free trade in goods and services with our European neighbours and also to be able to negotiate our own trade agreements.

Aerospace Industry

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that companies in the UK aerospace supply chain benefit from increasing aircraft orders.

Jesse Norman: The Government is investing £80m in the Sharing in Growth supply chain performance improvement programme; the lead 43 companies have already won in excess of £1.4 billion of contracts as a result of this work. The Government is also supporting the National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme to help SMEs innovate, develop and market technology. In addition, the Government has supported industry development of the Supply Chain Competitiveness Charter, where larger aerospace companies commit to share growth opportunities with suppliers in return for continued improvement in operational performance.

Aerospace Industry

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to build on the UK's strengths in aerospace innovation and manufacturing.

Jesse Norman: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has allocated £1.95bn to 2026 to co-fund aerospace related R&D activities. 160 technology projects worth £1.3 billion are currently under way, spanning wings, engines, aero structures and advanced systems. This involves 195 different companies and organisations, including over 100 SMEs. In addition the Government is helping the sector develop its supply chain by investing £80m in the Sharing in Growth supply chain performance improvement programme; the lead 43 companies have already won in excess of £1.4 billion of contracts as a result of this work. The Government also supports the National Aerospace Technology Exploitation programme to help SMEs innovate, develop and market technology

Aerospace Industry

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the aerospace sector remains globally competitive.

Jesse Norman: The UK has the second largest aerospace industry, with strengths in some of the most technologically advanced parts of aircraft – wings, engines and advanced systems. The sector has annual turnover of around £30 billion, and exports some £25 billion. Through the Aerospace Growth Partnership, Government is supporting action by industry to make sure the UK remains competitive, including a joint Industry/Government commitment of £3.9 billion for Research and Development activities through to 2026.

Holidays Abroad: Repayments

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what (a) advice and (b) support his Department provides to people who incurred a financial loss by cancelling travel plans as a result of following government advice in February 2016 to consult a medical professional before travelling to areas where there were Zika outbreaks.

Margot James: With the National Travel Health Network and Centre, Public Health England has developed and issued advice on Zika for all travellers (particularly pregnant women) travelling to areas with a risk of Zika virus transmission. This includes recommending an individual risk assessment with a health professional prior to travel. Changes to Zika guidance are regularly communicated by the National Travel Health Network and Centre and Public Health England to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) who then update their webpages accordingly.The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) does not play an active role in providing advice and support to people who cancel travel plans as a result of following advice issue by Public Health England, the National Travel Health Network and Centre or the FCO. BEIS fund Citizens Advice to provide the Consumer Service helpline with delivers practical advice on a broad range of consumer issues and refers appropriate cases to the relevant local Trading Standards. Travellers who cancelled bookings following medical advice should check the terms of any insurance they had regarding the cancellation of their travel arrangements. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 protects consumers against unfair contract terms, including disproportionate termination fees.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Staff

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2017 to Question 60572, whether his Department has a budget for the employment of additional staff to work on the Great Repeal Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Margot James: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s Europe Directorate employs a dedicated team of officials who work on European policy and negotiations. This includes the arrangements for exit, such as the Great Repeal Bill, and our future relationship with the EU. Officials across the Department also provide advice and analysis on EU exit issues as required.

Higher Education: EU Grants and Loans

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much EU funding was received by higher education institutions in (a) the UK and (b) Greater London in each financial year since 2010-11.

Joseph Johnson: The table below shows the level of funding Higher Education Institutions in (a) the UK and (b) the London region, received from EU government bodies for research grants and contracts, the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund between 2010/11 and 2014/15. Region10/1111/1212/1313/1414/15London (£thousands)93,408111,783135,385158,230171,519UK (£thousands)496,734589,425694,731787,047821,280 Source: BEIS analysis of the HESA Finance Record and the HE-BCI Survey

Cancer: Research

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding was allocated to UK research projects on cancer under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme.

Joseph Johnson: The UK Government does not hold this information. Many of the projects funded under the EU’s seventh framework programme were interdisciplinary and covered a number of themes, which will have included cancer research. It is therefore not possible to identify the projects and associated funding that relate specifically to cancer research.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Pay

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the level of earnings is of the (a) highest and (b) lowest-paid employees of his Department, its agencies and arms-length bodies; and what the median level of earnings is for such employees.

Margot James: The Office for National Statistics publish annually the highest and median salary for each Civil Service organization as part of the Civil Service Statistics. This information can be found on the Office for National Statistics website:https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/medianpayannexbEarning levels for the lowest paid employee are not publically available.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Overseas Aid

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what basis and in accordance with what criteria funds from the Empowerment Fund will be allocated.

Alok Sharma: ​The Empowerment Fund is in the early stages of development. Details of the Fund will be announced in Parliament in due course.

Pakistan: Ahmadiyya

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the government of Pakistan on Ahmadis recently arrested in Rabwah and Chakwal.

Alok Sharma: ​The Government strongly condemns the persecution of all minorities, including the targeting of people based on their beliefs. We regularly raise our concerns about the protection of minority communities with the Government of Pakistan. I raised our concerns about the treatment of religious minorities, including Ahmadiyya Muslims, with Kamran Michael, Pakistani Minister for Human Rights, and Barrister Zafarullah Khan, the Prime Minister's Special Assistant for Human Rights, during my visit to Pakistan in January 2017. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson), discussed religious tolerance and the importance of safeguarding the rights of all Pakistani citizens during his visit to Pakistan in November 2016. The Government continues to urge Pakistan to honour in practice its human rights obligations, including those related to religious minorities, and to uphold the rule of law.

USA: Climate Change

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had on international cooperation on climate change with Scott Pruitt, President Trump's nominee for Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Alok Sharma: We have not yet held discussions with Scott Pruitt on international cooperation on climate change. When we do, we will be clear about our views on the issue.

USA: Climate Change

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had on international cooperation on climate change with Rex Tillerson, President Trump's nominee for Secretary of State.

Alok Sharma: We have not yet held discussions with Rex Tillerson on international cooperation on climate change. When we do, we will be clear about our views on the issue.

Saudi Arabia: Capital Punishment

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2016 to Question 45557, what recent representations he has made to his Saudi Arabian counterpart on the cases of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, Abdullah al-Zaher and Dawood al-Marhoon.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK remains concerned about cases of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, Dawood al-Marhoon and Abdullah al-Zaher. Our Embassy in Riyadh last raised the three men's cases on 19 January 2017 and our expectation remains that they will not be executed. We will continue to closely follow their cases.

Israeli Settlements

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Israeli counterpart on the building of Israeli settlements on Palestinian land; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: On 24 and 25 January I issued statements regarding the latest settlement announcements. I raised the issue of settlements with the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister when we spoke on 10 January 2017.The UK's position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace, and take us further away from a two-state solution. We regularly raise our concerns on this issue with the Government of Israel and urge it to reverse its systematic policy of settlement expansion. We believe the construction of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is illegal, which is why we supported UN Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016).

Iraq: Bomb Disposal

Mr Pat McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much funding has been allocated to de-mining in and surrounding Mosul since the offensive against Daesh.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK is helping the Government of Iraq to stabilise areas liberated from Daesh. We have provided £8.25 million for UN-led efforts to manage explosive hazards, including a £3.5m contribution to support work in and around Mosul. We are also providing technical advice and support from the British Defence Attaché in Baghdad, and the British Army's Senior Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Expert. In total, the international community has contributed £88.25 million for the management of explosive hazards, primarily through the UN Mine Action Service.

Iraq: Bomb Disposal

Mr Pat McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to implement an international strategy for the removal of mines, improvised explosive devices and other explosive devices in and surrounding Mosul since the offensive against Daesh.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are working with the Government of Iraq and our Coalition partners to stabilise areas in and surrounding Mosul that have been liberated from Daesh, including through the provision of targeted support and technical advice through the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS). We have provided £8.25 million for UNMAS-led efforts to manage explosive hazards, to help to provide a safe environment for displaced Iraqis to return home. The UK is also the Global Coalition military Counter-Improvised Explosive Device training lead in Iraq.

Ethiopia: Human Rights

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department identified any human rights risks in the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessment it conducted for the regional MSc in Security Sector Management in Ethiopia.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessment for the regional MSc in Security Sector Management identified no serious risk of it directly or significantly contributing to a violation of human rights.The programme is itself designed to directly mitigate the risk of human rights abuses. Human rights features prominently as a cross-cutting theme throughout the course.

Israeli Settlements

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2017 to Question 58877 and the Answer of 26 January 2017 to Question 60521, which Ministers were made aware of the text of the UN Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016) before the vote on that resolution took place.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: I refer my Hon. Friend to my answer of 26 January 2017 (written PQ 60521).

Hong Kong: Politics and Government

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with Lord Patten of Barnes on (a) the rule of law and (b) democracy in Hong Kong.

Alok Sharma: I have not recently met The Rt Hon. Lord Patten of Barnes to discuss Hong Kong.

Hong Kong: Politics and Government

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Government on (a) the rule of law and (b) democracy in Hong Kong.

Alok Sharma: While I did not meet the Chief Executive CY Leung during my visit to Hong Kong on 1 – 3 December 2016, I discussed the political situation in Hong Kong with the Chief Secretary, Carrie Lam; legislators from a variety of mainstream parties; and a range of senior civil society and business representatives. In my discussions, I made clear that the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law underpin the implementation of 'One Country, Two Systems' and remain the foundations for the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong and the rights and freedoms of its people. The rule of law and independent judiciary are essential to the success of 'One Country, Two Systems'. I encouraged all parties to play their part in rebuilding constructive dialogue to pave the way for the resumption of the political reform process at the earliest opportunity.

Hong Kong: Politics and Government

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on (a) the rule of law and (b) democracy in Hong Kong.

Alok Sharma: While I did not meet the Chief Executive CY Leung during my visit to Hong Kong on 1 – 3 December 2016, I discussed the political situation in Hong Kong with the Chief Secretary, Carrie Lam; legislators from a variety of mainstream parties; and a range of senior civil society and business representatives. In my discussions, I made clear that the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law underpin the implementation of 'One Country, Two Systems' and remain the foundations for the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong and the rights and freedoms of its people. The rule of law and independent judiciary are essential to the success of 'One Country, Two Systems'. I encouraged all parties to play their part in rebuilding constructive dialogue to pave the way for the resumption of the political reform process at the earliest opportunity.

Hong Kong: Politics and Government

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on (a) the rule of law and (b) democracy in Hong Kong.

Alok Sharma: The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson) and I discussed the importance of maintaining confidence in 'One Country, Two Systems' with Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi at the UK – China Strategic Dialogue on 20 December, in which I participated.

Hong Kong: Visits Abroad

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the Minister for Asia and the Pacific next plans to visit Hong Kong.

Alok Sharma: Following my visit to Hong Kong in December 2016, I have no immediate plans for a further visit. The British Consulate General in Hong Kong continues to support and represent UK interests there.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Pay

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the level of earnings is of the (a) highest and (b) lowest-paid employee of his Department, its agencies and arms-length bodies; and what the median level of earnings is for such employees.

Sir Alan Duncan: The table below shows the highest, lowest and median salaries of staff in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, its agencies and arms length bodies.OrganisationHighest salaryLowest salaryMedian salaryForeign and Commonwealth Office£180,000-£184,999£18,779£33,108British Council£190,000-£194,999£15,302£33,104FCO Services£120,000-£124,999£18,887£29,153Great Britain China Centre£85,000-£89,999£18,000£28,355Westminster Foundation for Democracy£95,000-£99,999£20,000£33,762Wilton Park£115,000-£119,999£18,779£22,530

Adrian St John

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure a representative of the British High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago attends the next hearing, on 6 February 2017, relating to the murder of Adrian St John.

Sir Alan Duncan: I can confirm that a representative of the British High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago will observe the next hearing on 6 February 2017.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Standards

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will provide a comprehensive list of the public policy targets established by his Department (a) between 2010 and May 2015 and (b) since May 2015.

Alok Sharma: ​The Foreign and Commonwealth Office policy priorities are included in our Annual Reports. These are submitted to Parliament and may be found online at the following locations:Annual report for 2010-11 see page 6https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/229172/0974.pdfAnnual report for 2011-12 see pages 6 and 13-14https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/32880/annual-report-accounts-2011-12.pdfAnnual report for 2012-13 see pages 10 and 17-18https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/318816/Annual_Report_2012-2013_-_update_June2014.pdfAnnual report for 2013-14 see pages 10-11 and 23-24https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/325896/FCO_Annual_Report_2013-14.pdfAnnual report for 2014-15 see page 13https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/444067/Amended_FCO_Annual_Report_2015_web__1_.pdfAnnual report for 2015-16 see page 13https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/539413/FCO_Annual_Report_2016_ONLINE.pdf

Department for Exiting the European Union

Gibraltar

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether he has met the Chief Minister of Gibraltar to discuss priorities for Gibraltar in the UK's negotiations on leaving the EU.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar on the future of the border between Gibraltar and Spain after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Robin Walker: The UK Government has made clear that it intends to fully involve Gibraltar as we prepare for exit from the EU, to ensure Gibraltar’s interests are properly taken into account. I have been closely involved in considering Gibraltar’s priorities from the start of the EU exit process. On 20 July, my first debate in my role as a minister at the Department for Exiting the European Union was a Westminster Hall debate on the EU Referendum and Gibraltar (https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2016-07-20/debates/16072020000001/EUReferendumGibraltar). The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union and I met the Gibraltar Chief Minister on 12 September 2016 and I held a meeting with the Chief Minister and representatives of Gibraltar industry and trade unions on 1 November. At a multilateral level, Minister for the Overseas Territories, Baroness Anelay and I met with leaders of the Overseas Territories on 2 November 2016 at the UK-Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council. We committed to taking forward future engagement through the creation of the UK – Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council on European Negotiations (JMC – OT EN), to meet in February.I chaired the first meeting of the UK-Gibraltar Ministerial Forum on EU Exit took place on 7 December 2016, with Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers taking part alongside the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Gibraltar.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Hotels

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many overnight hotel stays for official purposes in other countries have been made by (a) him and other Ministers and (b) special advisers of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Jones: Details of Ministerial and special advisers overseas travel are published in the Department’s Quarterly Transparency Returns, which are made publicly available on GOV.UK. Information for the period July to September 2016 was published on 16 December 2016.

Brexit

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the Prime Minister's Answer of 25 January 2016 to Question 908364, Official Report, column 286, when he expects the Government's plan for the UK leaving the EU to be set out in a White Paper and published for the House.

Mr David Jones: As the Prime Minister said in the House on 1 February 2017, the Government will publish a White Paper on Thursday 2 February.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Cabinet Committees

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will list the Cabinet sub-committees he regularly attends.

Mr David Jones: Information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees, including when and how often they meet, is not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion. A full list of the Cabinet Committees and Implementation Task Forces, with their membership and terms of reference, can be found on the Cabinet Office's webpage:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-cabinet-committees-system-and-list-of-cabinet-committees

Department for Exiting the European Union: Pay

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what the (a) level of earnings is of the (i) highest and (ii) lowest-paid employee and (b) median earnings are of employees of his Department.

Mr David Jones: Government departments do not publish details of the salary of their highest to lowest paid employees.The Office for National Statistics do, however, publish the salary ratio of highest to median earners for each Civil Service organisation. These ratios are published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics. Due to the timing of the exercise the Department for Exiting the European Union was not included in this year’s figures but this information can be found on the Office for National Statistics website:https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/bulletins/civilservicestatistics/2016

UK Trade with EU

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of the effect of World Trade Organisation rules on (a) reaching a new customs agreement, (b) making the UK an associate member of the customs union and (c) the UK remaining a signatory to some elements of the customs union, as set out by the Prime Minister in her speech at Lancaster House on 17 January 2017.

Mr Robin Walker: The Prime Minister has set out our intention to negotiate a new customs agreement with the EU. We have an open mind about the form of that agreement, but it is in both the UK and EU's interest to see tariff-free trade continue and for that cross-border trade to be as frictionless as possible. We will ensure that any future arrangements are fully compliant with our international commitments and obligations.

Department for International Development

Colombia: Halo Trust

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Halo Trust is working on behalf of the Government in carrying out its de-mining work in Colombia; and if she will make a statement.

Rory Stewart: DFID supports HALO Trust’s programmes in Burma, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Cambodia, Somalia and Afghanistan. We do not currently work with HALO in Colombia. In 2016, DFID’s programmes cleared mines and other explosive remnants of war from over 2,000 hectares of land, which were returned back to productive use, saving lives and supporting livelihoods.

Developing Countries: Family Planning

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate her Department has made of the potential shortfall in funding to charities and non-governmental organisations as a result of the revocation in the US of the Presidential Memorandum of 23 January 2009 Mexico City Policy and Assistance for Voluntary Population Planning and the reinstatement of the Presidential Memorandum of 22 January 2001 Restoration of Mexico City Policy; and what plans her Department has to ensure continued access to (a) family planning advice and (b) safe termination and contraception through its programmes.

James Wharton: It is too early to put an exact figure on the financial impact of the restoration of the Mexico City Policy.The UK firmly believes that supporting comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls, through proven, evidence-based public health interventions, saves lives and supports prosperity. We will continue to work with all our partners, including governments, UNFPA and civil society partners, to deliver this.

Syria: Overseas Aid

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made on the success of the World Food Programme's use of the Joint Precision Airdrop System (JPADS) for aid air-drops into Deir Ezzor; and what steps her Department has taken to assess the feasibility of the Government using JPADS for aid air-drops into besieged areas of Syria.

Rory Stewart: The World Food Programme (WFP) has trialled the use of Joint Precision Airdrop System (JPADS) as part of its humanitarian airdrop operations to Deir Ez-Zour. WFP report that the cost of JPADS was roughly 3.5 times higher than non-guided parachutes, and that the average percentage of goods recovered from 27 JPADS airdrops was lower than the average for non-guided parachutes.The UK does not possess a JPADS capability. We continue to work with partners to explore all viable options for delivering aid into besieged areas in Syria. Aid, delivered by road, by trusted humanitarian partners who can ensure it gets to those who need it most, remains the most effective approach.

Developing Countries: Older People

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to her Department's Bilateral Development Review 2016, how the analysis of demographic trends took into account the ageing population in developing countries.

James Wharton: In order to ensure that DFID strategy overseas is informed by issues on the ground a series of Country Poverty Reduction Diagnostics were conducted. These directly informed the Bilateral Development Review. These diagnostics include analyses of country specific issues, including demographic challenges which the country is experiencing or expecting to experience during the course of this strategic planning period.

Department for Education

Institute for Apprenticeships

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills of 9 January 2017, Official Report, column 85, who will be responsible within the Institute for Apprenticeships for collating and processing data on the outcomes of apprenticeships.

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills of 9 January 2017, Official Report, column 85, whether the Institute for Apprenticeships will have access to data on the outcomes of apprenticeships from 1 May 2017.

Robert Halfon: The Institute for Apprenticeships will have access to data on the outcomes of apprenticeships from April 2017. Within the Institute, its Data Science Unit will be responsible for collating and processing data on the outcomes of apprenticeships.

Schools: Standards

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to improve educational standards in schools.

Nick Gibb: In 2014, we introduced a new ambitious National Curriculum. We have reformed GCSEs and A levels to ensure they are on par with qualifications used in the best education systems in the world and to keep pace with universities and employers’ demands. Last July, we announced a £41M programme to support primary schools to adopt successful Southeast Asian ‘mastery’ approach to teaching mathematics. In the financial year 2016-17 we funded eight phonics partnerships and ten phonics roadshows to improve the teaching of early reading. We also want to ensure that schools are able to access the support they need to improve. We are making funds available to the school system. This includes a new £140 million ‘Strategic School Improvement Fund’ for academies and maintained schools and a £50 million a year grant for local authorities to continue to monitor and commission improvement provision for low-performing maintained schools. Since 2010, the proportion of children taught in good or outstanding schools has risen from 66% to 86%, which means almost 1.8 million more pupils today have a good or better school place than in 2010. The ‘Schools that work for everyone’ consultation sets out plans to make more good school places available, to more parents, in more parts of the country.

Classroom Assistants

Anna Turley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the change in responsibilities of teaching assistants since 2010; and what steps her Department takes to support teaching assistants who have taken on additional responsibilities.

Nick Gibb: Head teachers are responsible for the deployment of their teaching assistants, which is based on the existing guidance available such as the Education Endowment Foundation’s report “Making Best Use of Teaching Assistants”. The report offers the latest evidence and identifies ways that schools can deploy teaching assistants in different contexts to deliver high quality support to pupils. It also recommends that teaching assistants should be fully prepared for their role by having the knowledge and training necessary to carry out their work. The report is available at: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/uploads/pdf/TA_Guidance_Report_Interactive.pdf

Primary Education: Standards

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many academies or maintained schools with Key Stage 2 SATs results in the top 3 per cent of comparable schools have been judged inadequate.

Nick Gibb: There are seven headline indicators published in 2016 Key Stage 2 performance tables covering the attainment and progress of pupils. As at 31 August 2016, there are four schools previously judged inadequate in their last inspection that are in the top 3 per cent of schools against any one of the seven indicators based on their 2016 results. The table below sets out the number of schools per indicator:Performance Tables IndicatorNumber of schools previously judged inadequate in the top 3 per cent of results for 2016 Percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics0Percentage of pupils achieving at a higher standard in reading, writing and mathematics1Progress in reading1Progress in writing0Progress in maths3Average score in reading0Average score in maths1 Notes: Figures cover mainstream schools with published results in performance tables.A single school represents approximately 0.2% of those in the top 3% of schools

Durand Academy

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish all correspondence between the Education Funding Agency and Ofsted on Durand Academy in 2016 and 2017.

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many times in 2016 and 2017 the Education Funding Agency met Ofsted to discuss Durand Academy.

Edward Timpson: The Education Funding Agency has not corresponded with Ofsted regarding Durand Academy in 2016 and 2017.On 20th December, Ofsted formally notified the Department of Education on the outcome of their inspection of the Durand Academy and briefed the Regional School Commissioner and the Educational Funding Agency the following day.

Classroom Assistants: Average Earnings

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average salary was for (a) general teaching assistants, (b) higher-level teaching assistants and (c) all teaching assistants in (i) local authority maintained schools, (ii) academy schools and (iii) free schools in each year between 2010 and 2015.

Nick Gibb: The following table shows the average salary for all full-time general teaching assistants, higher level teaching assistants, and all teaching assistants in local authority maintained schools, academy schools, and free schools in England, from November 2011 to 2015.Figures for 2010 are not available. Full-time General Teaching AssistantsFull-time Higher Level Teaching AssistantsFull-time All Teaching Assistants2011   Local Authority Maintained Schools£18,700£21,400£18,900Academies£18,400£20,400£18,600Free SchoolsSUPPSUPPSUPPAll Schools£18,600£21,300£18,8002012   Local Authority Maintained Schools£18,600£21,500£18,900Academies£18,300£21,000£18,500Free Schools£15,700SUPP£16,000All Schools£18,500£21,400£18,8002013   Local Authority Maintained Schools£18,800£22,000£19,100Academies£18,500£21,200£18,700Free SchoolsSUPPSUPP£16,300All Schools£18,700£21,800£19,0002014   Local Authority Maintained Schools£18,800£21,900£19,200Academies£18,500£21,300£18,700Free Schools£16,500£19,500£16,700All Schools£18,700£21,700£19,0002015   Local Authority Maintained Schools£19,000£22,400£19,400Academies£18,900£21,400£19,100Free Schools£16,900£19,500£17,000All Schools£18,900£22,100£19,200Source: School Workforce CensusFigures where there are less than 50 teaching assistants have been suppressed.

Schools: Staff

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds relating to teaching assistants and other school support staff on trends in (a) teacher recruitment and retention, (b) performance and effectiveness, (c) days lost due to sickness, (d) skills attained and (e) employment on term-time-only contracts.

Nick Gibb: The number and characteristics of teaching assistants and school support staff employed in state-funded schools in England is published in the annual series of statistical first releases ‘School Workforce in England’. The latest available information, as at November 2015, is in tables 1, 2b, 3b and 6 at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-in-england-november-2015 Information is not collected centrally for teaching assistants and school support staff on the following: recruitment and retention, performance and effectiveness, days lost due to sickness, skills attained, and term-time only contracts.

Schools: Closures

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2017 to Question 58494, what information her Department holds on the cost of school closures since 2010.

Edward Timpson: I refer the honourable member to my response to question 58495, which I have restated below.The Department does not record, centrally, information on the costs of school closures.

Schools: Closures

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 10 January 2017 to Question 58097, whether any intervention from her Department in a school closure consultation subsequently led to a consultation being paused.

Edward Timpson: I refer the honourable member to my response to question 58097, which I have restated below.The Department’s guidance on consultation sets out the minimum periods for which local authorities and academy trusts must consult, where school closure is proposed, but it does not mention pausing a consultation.Consultation on a proposal to close a school is undertaken locally either by the local authority or the academy trust to allow those directly affected by the proposals to provide their comments.It is up to the local authority or academy trust to decide whether a consultation needs to be paused. The Department does not record or hold this information centrally.

Citizenship: Teachers

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many citizenship teachers were trained in each year since 2010.

Nick Gibb: The number of citizenship teachers trained each year since academic year 2010/11 is shown in the table below:  Academic YearNumber of citizenship trainees2010/112432011/121642012/131252013/141162014/151122015/16852016/1754 Source: ITT Census Data Management SystemThe number of new entrants to Citizenship is not published in the annual ITT Census and is included as part of “Other” in the subject tables.

Schools: Internet

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will write to (a) Wikihow and (b) YouTube to request that those organisations remove from their sites guides on how to hack into school websites and servers.

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether schools are required to inform her Department if their websites and servers are hacked.

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools in England have their own website; and what guidance or support her Department has given to schools to ensure that websites and school servers are secure.

Nick Gibb: Through the Edubase register, the Department for Education is aware of 19,885 schools with websites.All schools, as independent public bodies, are directly responsible under the Data Protection Act 1998 for the collation, retention, storage and security of all information they produce and hold. The Department provides guidance to schools on how to protect data including the key principles, obligations and duties in relation to the Data Protection Act. Schools are not required to notify the Department if their website or servers are hacked, but in the event of a suspected serious breach or loss of personal or private information, schools should report the incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Social Services: Children

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to prohibit subsidiaries of profit-making companies from contracting with local authorities to run child protection and other children's social care services.

Edward Timpson: As stated in my answer of 25 January, my policy is that no organisation can contract with a local authority to deliver child protection functions if they are operated on a for profit basis. This is the case regardless of organisational form. This is made clear in the Children and Young Persons Act 2008 (Relevant Care Functions) (England) Regulations 2014. The Government has no intention of revisiting the settled position on this matter.

Teachers: Pay

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how inflation is taken into account in determining pay for teachers.

Nick Gibb: Teachers’ pay is based on recommendations from the independent School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB). Before making their recommendations, the STRB considers evidence from all of its statutory consultees, including economic and financial data from the Government.

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners' Transfers

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether it is her Department's policy to provide information to prisoners and their families in the event of their transfer to another prison; and by what mechanism prisoners and their families can appeal a prison transfer.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Prison Rules require prisons to actively encourage prisoners to maintain outside contacts and meaningful family ties. Prisoners also have a statutory entitlement to send and receive letters and are entitled to one free letter to inform someone they are being transferred. They are also given the access to make a telephone call on the day of their arrival to a new prison to inform their family of their new location if they have not been able to do so in advance. It is the prisoners’ responsibility to advise their family if they are transferring to another prison. The prisoner can make an appeal through the complaints system and is entitled to a reply, which should provide clear reasons for their decision. If they are not satisfied with their response they can write to the Prison Ombudsman. Families can also raise any concerns directly with the Prison.

Insurance

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of changes to the Ogden tables and discount rates on the cost of insurance policies to consumers.

Sir Oliver Heald: On 7 December, the Lord Chancellor informed the market that the result of her review of the discount rate for personal injury claims would be announced by 31 January, following consultation. This has taken longer than anticipated, so it is not yet possible to make an announcement. However, the Lord Chancellor remains committed to making an announcement in February.

Offences against Children

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for what reasons section 67 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 has not yet been commenced.

Sir Oliver Heald: I refer the hon.member to the answer given on 31 January to PQ 61208.

Courts: Staff

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions she has had with court staff trade union representatives on their remuneration and training for judicial decision-making as set out in the Transforming our Justice System, consultation paper, published in September 2016.

Sir Oliver Heald: Certain HMCTS staff are already authorised to exercise judicial powers across most jurisdictions. Mechanisms are in place to discuss training and remuneration with the staff involved and with trades unions. There have been numerous discussions under this framework in the past, as roles have changed and developed. HMCTS recently sought the views of staff, trades unions and the judiciary about a proposed new senior leadership structure for these roles, and will continue to use the mechanisms available as they develop.

Self-harm: Prisoners on Remand

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents there were of (a) self-harm, (b) attempted self-inflicted death and (c) self-inflicted death by prisoners on remand in (i) 2015 and (ii) 2016; and what proportion of all prisoners on remand such incidents represented in each of those years.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Government publishes statistics on safety in custody quarterly, and updated detailed tables, including the custody type of the prisoners concerned, annually. This can be viewed on gov.uk. (a) Information on self-harm incidents by status is available for 2015. The 2016 data will be published on 27 April 2017.(b) In collecting information about self-harm incidents, the National Offender Management Service does not attribute intent, because it would be very difficult to do so with any degree of accuracy. Therefore the data does not distinguish incidents of attempted self-inflicted death.(c) Information on self-inflicted deaths by status is available for 2015 and 2016. This information can be combined with the published data on the prison population, also available on gov.uk, to calculate the relevant proportions.

Social Security Benefits: Rutherglen and Hamilton West

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of appeals to the tribunal service from appellants in Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency for claims relating to (a) personal independence payment, (b) employment and support allowance, (c) income support, (d) jobseeker's allowance and (e) tax credits were successful in the latest period for which figures are available.

Sir Oliver Heald: Information about the volume and outcomes of appeals to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support) is published on gov.uk. The table below provides a further breakdown of this information, covering the latest period for which figures are available (July to September 2016).   Proportion of appeals decided in favour of the appellant between July and September 2016 PIP1ESA2IS3JSA4Tax Credits5Glasgow6  58%61%43%42%29%  Hamilton740%54%50%33%55% Based on cases cleared8 at Tribunal SSCS data are normally registered to the venue nearest to the appellant’s home address. We cannot retrieve data based on the appellant’s actual address, but can produce reports detailing the numbers of cases that were dealt with at one of our Regional centres 1 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaced Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Clams (Reassessments)2 Includes Employment and Support Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Reassessments)3 Income Support4 Jobseeker's Allowance5 Includes Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.6 Glasgow Wellington House venue includes all appeals heard in this venue, appellants living in the Rutherglen area are normally assigned to this venue for a tribunal hearing.7 Hamilton venue includes all appeals heard in this venue, appellants living in the Hamilton West area are normally assigned to this venue for a tribunal hearing.8 Represents those cases cleared at a tribunal hearing, excludes those cases disposed of without the need of a hearing (i.e. decisions retrospectively supersede, withdrawn prior to hearing, struck out) Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and are the best data that is available.

NHS: Finance

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what impact assessment has been carried out on the change to the discount rate on the NHS.

Sir Oliver Heald: On 7 December, the Lord Chancellor informed the market that the result of her review of the discount rate for personal injury claims would be announced by 31 January, following consultation. This has taken longer than anticipated, so it is not yet possible to make an announcement. However, the Lord Chancellor remains committed to making an announcement in February.

Magistrates' Courts: Wrexham

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what budget has been allocated to pay for the construction of new custody facilities at Wrexham Magistrates' Court.

Sir Oliver Heald: HM Courts & Tribunals Service is assessing options and associated costs for the future provision of custodial facilities at Wrexham Magistrates’ Court.

Magistrates' Courts: Wrexham

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps have been taken to commission new custody facilities at Wrexham Magistrates' Court.

Sir Oliver Heald: HM Courts & Tribunals Service has commissioned a design for replacement custody facilities at Wrexham Magistrates’ Court. This will be evaluated as part of the assessment of options for the future provision of custodial facilities at Wrexham Magistrates Court.

Dangerous Driving: Sentencing

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of current sentencing for causing a death by dangerous driving.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the courts. The government recognise that there are concerns about sentencing for driving offences. That is why on Monday 5 December we launched a consultation on dangerous driving offences and penalties. The consultation closes on 1 February 2017.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Broadband

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will publish a roadmap for the roll-out of local full-fibre broadband.

Matt Hancock: We published a Call for Evidence on Extending Local Full Fibre Networks on 29 December, which outlined a number of options Government is considering to incentivise and support commercial roll out. We will consider the evidence presented by providers, local bodies and other stakeholders and announce further details in due course.

Mobile Phones: Radio Frequencies

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the proportion of time customers of the four major mobile networks are able to access 4G coverage.

Matt Hancock: My department has not made any estimate of the proportion of time customers of the four major mobile networks are able to access 4G coverage. However, improving mobile connectivity across the UK is a priority for the Government, and indoor 4G coverage has increased from 84% of premises to 96% over 2015-16 according to Ofcom’s latest Connected Nations report.

Mobile Phones: Radio Frequencies

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to improve 4G coverage in the UK.

Matt Hancock: Improving mobile connectivity across the UK is a priority for the Government. The December 2014 agreement with the four UK mobile network operators (MNOs) means that each mobile operator has a legally binding licence obligation to provide coverage to at least 90% of UK landmass by end 2017. Additionally O2 has a licence obligation to provide indoor 4G coverage to 98% of premises, also by the end of 2017. These obligations will be enforced by Ofcom who will have a new power, under the Digital Economy Bill, to fine operators if they fail to meet these targets. The licence obligations arising from the December 2014 agreement, have locked in investment of £5 billion and are delivering improved coverage across the UK. Ofcom's 2016 Connected Nations Report shows that 99% of UK premises now have indoor voice coverage and 96% have indoor 4G data coverage. Our recent reforms to mobile planning laws in England and proposed reforms of the Electronic Communications Code, will support further investment and improvements in connectivity across the UK and reduce not spots.

Flags

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which public body provides approval for the list of mandatory flag flying days in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales.

Tracey Crouch: The designated days for flying the Union Flag on Government buildings in the United Kingdom have been set to mark special occasions by command of Her Majesty the Queen and on the advice of Government.

Flags

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the process is for approving additional mandatory days for flying the national flag to the list published by her Department on the gov.uk website.

Tracey Crouch: The designated days for flying the Union Flag on UK Government buildings have been set to mark special occasions by command of Her Majesty the Queen and on the advice of Government. Any additions or changes must be discussed with Government and the Lord Chamberlain's Office.

Mobile Phones: Radio Frequencies

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of UK landmass has mobile voice and SMS coverage.

Matt Hancock: According to Ofcom's 2016 Connected Nations Report, there is voice and SMS coverage from at least one Mobile Network Operator to 90% of the UK landmass.

Broadband

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of households in the top 10 most (a) rural and (b) urban parliamentary constituencies have access to high speed broadband.

Matt Hancock: The Department measures broadband rollout by premises and as such does not distinguish between households and businesses; nor does it have a measure of ‘most rural’. Third party websites like Think Broadband do list superfast broadband rollout by constituency - the link for this information is here: http://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/browse

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit: Housing Benefit

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2017 to Question 60655, on universal credit and housing benefit, if he will place in the Library the assumptions and modelling on which those estimates are based.

Caroline Nokes: The impact of this policy was outlined in the Summer Budget policy costings document published in July 2015. All costings in that document were subject to scrutiny by the Office for Budget Responsibility.

Children: Maintenance

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department plans to publish the unlikely to pay guidance given to child maintenance staff to assist them in the determination of whether a non-paying parent should be required to pay child maintenance due via the Collect and Pay Service.

Caroline Nokes: We are planning to publish the Child Maintenance Decision Making Guidance online, alongside DWP’s existing Social Security Decision Making Guidance in summer 2017. The guidance is currently being reviewed and updated, and will include guidance used to decide whether a paying parent should be deemed unlikely to pay.

Children: Poverty

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will launch a public consultation on setting a target to reduce child poverty.

Damian Hinds: Tackling child poverty and disadvantage is a priority for this Government. We are convinced that there is a better approach than through setting income-related targets such as those set out in the Child Poverty Act 2010. This is why we replaced those targets with statutory measures of parental worklessness and children’s educational attainment – the two areas that can make the biggest difference to children’s outcomes. We will build on these measures through our forthcoming Green Paper on Social Justice.

Department for Work and Pensions: Pay

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the level of earnings is of the (a) highest and (b) lowest-paid employees of his Department, agencies and arms-length bodies; and what the median level of earnings is for such employees.

Caroline Nokes: The Department for Work and Pensions currently employs circa 85,000 members of staff and pays all direct employees at least the statutory National Living Wage, regardless of age.The Department and its agencies and arms length bodies publish salary information within their Annual Reports and Accounts. A breakdown of highest, lowest and median pay has been provided below. Figures have been taken from the 2015/16 annual reports and accounts. Department/BodyHighestLowestMedianDept. for Work and Pensions£215,000 - £220,000£15,530£22,928The Pensions Regulator£205,000£18,250£45,000The Pensions Ombudsman£130,000 - £135,000£17,980£36,392The Pensions Advisory Service£100,000£20,000£30,000National Employment Savings Trust Corporation£249,000£23,000NilHealth & Safety Executive£172,500£18,544£38,349Office for Nuclear Regulation£154,300£18,569£67,500Pension Protection Fund£565,000 - £570,000£18,000£49,000BPDTS LtdNilNilNil To note:Pay relates to annualised salary data (basic pay, recurring allowances, non-consolidated performance-related pay and benefits in kind). It does not include severance payments, employer pension contributions and the cash equivalent transfer value of pensions.Dept for work and Pensions Lowest Salary was £15,530 from 1 July 2015 to 30 March 2016 and uplifted to £15,785 to meet the National Living Wage introduced in April 2016.National Employment Savings Trust Corporation did not provide a median in their 2015/16 annual accounts.BPDTS Ltd was incorporated at Companies House on 28 August 2016. The first 27 employees transferred into the company on 30 November 2016, with another 400 due at the end of March 2017. The company’s results will be consolidated into DWP’s accounts from 2016-17.

Jobcentres: Newton-le-Willows

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in which postcodes are covered by Newton-le-Willows Jobcentre.

Damian Hinds: Newton le Willows covers the WA12 postcode area. There are currently 213 JSA claimants, 105 ESA, 71 IS and 185 UC claimants on caseloads at this office.

Jobcentres: Newton-le-Willows

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have accessed services at Newton-le-Willows Jobcentre in each year since 2010.

Damian Hinds: We are unable to provide exact figures of people who have accessed services at Newton-le-Willows Jobcentre, as the extent to which they are required to attend will vary, depending upon the specific requirements of the benefit they receive. The purpose of the equality analysis is to help establish how many people are likely to be affected by the proposal.

Jobcentres: Newton-le-Willows

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff of his Department are employed at Newton-le-Willows Jobcentre.

Caroline Nokes: At 31 December 2016 the Department for Work and Pensions employed four staff at Newton-le-Willows Jobcentre.

National Insurance: EU Nationals

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many EU migrants registered for national insurance numbers in Ashfield between (a) July and December 2015, (b) January and June 2016 and (c) July and December 2016.

Caroline Nokes: The available information on the number of foreign nationals registered for National Insurance numbers by geography, including parliamentary constituency and world area is published quarterly and can be found at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.ukGuidance for users is available at: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.htmlThe latest available information is up to September 2016.

Ministry of Defence

Military Corrective Training Centre Colchester

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many detainees at the Military Corrective Training Centre have been serving their detention in (a) A Company, (b) D Company and (c) awaiting the outcome of an investigation, or awaiting HM Prison or YOI placement in each year since 2010.

Mark Lancaster: The number of detainees admitted to the Military Corrective Training Centre are as follows:Military Detainees Held by Status2010201120122013201420152016Continued service in Military (A Company)589483346250187207160Discharged from service (D Company)354403269186168140136Sentenced to Imprisonment12216161414209Service Custody Platoon21191017831282419  Detainees awarded a sentence of Imprisonment by Courts Martial, pending transfer to a civilian prison. Under Rule 58 (R58) detainees should expect to be held for up to seven days but this period may be extended in order to ensure that all necessary documentation has been completed ready for transfer to prison. All R58 were dismissed from HM Forces. Detainees not under sentence (DNUS). This follows them being charged by their Commanding Officer and then remanded into custody by a Judge Advocate. On rare occasions, DNUS may be held pre-charge under the instructions of Service Police. Personnel in this category may also be recorded in one of the other categories if they were later convicted and sentenced to detention or imprisonment.

Army: Recruitment

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the shortfall was for the recruitment of reserve and regular soldiers and officers in (a) London Regiment, (b) Rifles, (c) Royal Gurkha Rifles, (d) Parachute Regiment, (e) Royal Irish Regiment, (f) Royal Welsh, (g) Mercian Regiment, (h) Yorkshire Regiment, (i) Royal Anglian Regiment, (j) Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, (k) Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, (l) Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, (m) Royal Regiment of Scotland, (n) Welsh Guards, (o) Irish Guards, (p) Scots Guards, (q) Coldstream Guards and (r) Grenadier Guards in the last 12 months.

Mike Penning: The information is not held in the format requested as data at this organisational level is collected by Financial (FY), not calendar year.Figures for FY 2016-17 will be available at the end of May 2017. I will write to the hon. Member then.Regular Officer recruits are recruited into the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst without being allocated a Regiment or Corps.Reserves are recruited against an annual overall requirement for new entrant enlistment.

Marines: Recruitment

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the shortfall was for the recruitment of reserve and regular marines and officers in the Royal Marines in the last 12 months.

Mike Penning: The information is not held in the format requested as targets and statistics are measured and reported by Financial Year (FY), not calendar year.In respect of the Royal Marine Reserve (RMR), there was no shortfall in FY 2016-17 up to 1 December 2016 for recruitment to RMR Officer or Other Ranks.For recruitment to the Regular Royal Marines, in FY 2016-17 up to 1 December 2016 there is no shortfall for Officers. For Other Ranks so far, 506 personnel have been recruited.

Army

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the manning shortfall by rank was for reserve and regular soldiers and officers in (a) London Regiment, (b) Rifles, (c) Royal Gurkha Rifles, (d) Parachute Regiment, (e) Royal Irish Regiment, (f) Royal Welsh, (g) Merciant Regiment, (h) Yorkshire Regiment, (i) Royal Anglian Regiment, (j) Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, (k) Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, (l) Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, (m) Royal Regiment of Scotland, (n) Welsh Guards, (o) Irish Guards, (p) Scots Guards, (q) Coldstream Guards and (r) Grenadier Guards in the last 12 months.

Mike Penning: For Regulars the total strength of the Infantry as at 1 December was 19,420 compared to a total Infantry Liability of 20,164. Of this, 4,380 Infantry Personnel are serving outwith their Regiments' units, for example in other Arms/Services and infantry Units, at HQs, and training and instructional establishments. This overall infantry manpower can be used flexibly. The Infantry regiments are made up of one or more Battalions which include infantry personnel and Attached Arms, such as drivers, medics, clerks etc. We are not able to provide shortfall data against this overall regiment establishment as data is not collected for the Attached Arms in the format requested. The figures in the attached table show the shortfall between the strength of infantry capbadged personnel vs infantry capbadged establishment for each of the listed Regiments’ units (ie infantry personnel serving within their capbadge battalion(s)). Figures are as at 1 December 2016 For Reserves the total strength of the Infantry as at 1 December was 6,240 compared to a total Infantry Liability of 6,048. Of this, 1,420 Infantry Personnel are serving outwith their Regiments' units, for example in other Arms/Services and infantry Units, at HQs, and training and instructional establishments. This overall infantry manpower can be used flexibly. The Infantry regiments are made up of one or more Battalions which include infantry personnel and Attached Arms, such as drivers, medics, clerks etc. We are not able to provide shortfall data against this overall regiment establishment as data is not collected for the Attached Arms in the format requested The figures in the attached table show the shortfall between the strength of infantry capbadged personnel against infantry capbadged establishment for each of the listed Regiments’ units (ie infantry personnel serving within their capbadge battalion(s)). Figures are as at 1 December 2016



61398 - Regular and Reserve Shortfall
(Word Document, 53.61 KB)

Armed Forces: Death

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's publication, UK armed forces suicide and open verdict deaths: 1984-2015, published on 31 March 2016, what the aggregated five-year average number of deaths recorded as suicide or as an open verdict of Army personnel were in which the deceased have been (a) deployed and (b) not deployed.

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's publication, UK armed forces suicide and open verdict deaths: 1984-2015, published on 31 March 2016, what the aggregated five-year average number of deaths recorded as suicide or an open verdict of Royal Air Force personnel were in which the deceased had been (a) deployed and (b) not deployed.

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's publication, UK armed forces suicide and open verdict deaths: 1984-2015, published on 31 March 2016, what the aggregated five-year average number of deaths recorded as suicide or an open verdict of members of (a) the Royal Navy and (b) other services were in which the deceased had been (i) deployed and (ii) not deployed.

Mark Lancaster: Defence Statistics maintains a database of individual deployment records from November 2001. The attached table, therefore, provides an annual breakdown of coroner-confirmed suicides and open verdict deaths among UK Armed Forces personnel as a whole and for each Service in the calendar years 2002 to 2015. It provides a breakdown by those who had previously deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan and those who had not deployed to either operation. The numbers presented may change when outstanding coroner verdicts are returned on deaths that have occurred since 2007.The Figures presented are the actual number of suicide and open verdict deaths per year rather than five year average numbers. Between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2015 a total of 82 Armed Forces personnel who had deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan were recorded by a coroner as being either a suicide or open verdict death. In the same period, a total of 107 Armed Forces personnel who had not deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan were recorded as a suicide or open verdict death. For context, a total of 634 UK Armed Forces personnel deaths as a result of operations in Iraq or Afghanistan and there were a total of 1,395 non-operational UK Armed Forces deaths over the same period. Suicide rates across the Services show a declining trend since the 1990s, similar to that seen in the UK general population. Rates among the UK Regular Armed Forces were lower than the UK general population1,2 throughout 1984-2015. The male suicide rate in the UK general population in 2014 was 16.8 per 100,000 compared to a UK Armed Forces male Tri-Service rate of 4 per 100,000.  1 Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2012) Suicide Rates in the United Kingdom, 2006 to 20102 Suicides in the United Kingdom 2013 Registrations, release 4 February 2016, ONS. 



61301 - AF Suicide and Open Verdict Deaths
(Word Document, 21.12 KB)

Navy: Death

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's publication, UK armed forces suicide and open verdict deaths: 1984-2015, published on 31 March 2016, what the aggregated five-year averages were of deaths of members of the (a) Royal Navy and (b) other branches of the naval services that were classified as death by suicide or recorded as an open verdict.

Mark Lancaster: The attached table provides an annual breakdown of coroner-confirmed suicides and open verdict deaths among Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel in calendar years 1984 to 2015. The numbers presented may change when outstanding coroner verdicts are returned on deaths that have occurred since 2007. The figures presented are the actual number of suicide and open verdict deaths per year rather than five year average numbers. Suicide rates across the Services show a declining trend since the 1990s, similar to that seen in the UK general population. Rates among the UK Regular Armed Forces were lower than the UK general population1,2 throughout 1984-2015. The male suicide rate in the UK general population in 2014 was 16.8 per 100,000 compared to a UK Armed Forces male Tri-Service rate of 4 per 100,000.  1 Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2012) Suicide Rates in the United Kingdom, 2006 to 20102 Suicides in the United Kingdom 2013 Registrations, release 4 February 2016, ONS. 



61302 - RN and RM Suicide and Open Verdict Deaths
(Word Document, 17.76 KB)

Defence School of Transport

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost and length is of Babock International's contract to run the Defence School of Transport, Leconfield; and what that company's plans are for the running of the Defence School of Transport.

Harriett Baldwin: A planned amendment to the existing Babcock Defence Support Group contract to provide equipment support at the Defence School of Transport is in the process of being finalised.

Defence School of Transport

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many trainees have been admitted to training courses at the Defence School of Transport, Leconfield in the fiscal year (a) before and (b) since Babock International took over the contract for the running of the facilities; how many training courses have been offered in each such year; and how many staff were employed in each such year.

Harriett Baldwin: In training year 2015-2016, 14,562 trainees arrived at the Defence School of Transport (DST) to conduct training. During this period, the school offered 129 courses. The planned Babcock contract extension to cover the provision of equipment support at the DST is still being finalised. There are currently 683 civil service posts, and 177 military posts at the DST.

Guided Weapons

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for the provision of helicopter-borne anti-ship missiles for the Royal Navy after the withdrawal from service of Sea Skua missiles.

Harriett Baldwin: The Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapons programme will provide the Royal Navy with Sea Venom and Martlet missiles, both of which can be launched from helicopters.

Army: Large Goods Vehicle Drivers

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many soldiers are LGV qualified.

Mark Lancaster: The table below shows the number of Regular and Reserve Army personnel registered on the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system holding Category C and C1 driving licences. The JPA was introduced in 2007 and these figures will include those individuals who have recorded their licence details on the system since then; actual numbers are likely to be higher.  Driver Licence CategoryCategory CCategory C1TotalRegular8,8099209,428Reserve7247371,327Total9,5331,65710,755 Notes:Categories relate to European driving license. Category C1 permits vehicles between 3,500 and 7,500kg maximum authorised mass (with a trailer up to 750kg). Category C permits vehicles over 3,500kg (with a trailer up to 750kg maximum authorised mass).This information is held for personnel administration purposes. Driver licence data has not been validated and therefore carries a degree of risk to accuracy.Figures may not include personnel who hold a licence but have not been required to declare it as part of their employment (this may particularly be the case with the Army Reserve).Further training and testing is necessary where a trailer licence (Category E) is required.

Veterans

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) homeless veterans and (b) veterans experiencing mental health problems; and whether each of those issues is supported by the Armed Forces Covenant.

Mark Lancaster: For details of the latest estimate of the number of homeless veterans I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Local Government) (Mr Jones) to Question 50027, to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Luciana Berger) on 10 November 2016: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2016-10-24/50027 In the UK, primary responsibility for the provision of healthcare, including mental healthcare, for veterans rests with the NHS in England and the Devolved Administrations. The Ministry of Defence provides advice, information and signposting to support services for veterans though its Veterans UK web pages and free telephone helpline service and we encourage veterans wishing to seek help with mental health problems to visit: www.gov.uk/mental-health-support-for-the-uk-armed-forces or call the 24-hour veterans' mental health helpline on 0800 138 1619. The £10 million per annum Covenant Fund makes grants to support the Armed Forces community and has funded projects across all four countries in the UK to support veterans with complex needs. This includes grants made through the Veterans in the Criminal Justice System programme; and the Veterans Gateway programme which will offer signposting to veterans for a range of issues including homelessness and mental health needs through a 24 hour helpline, website and app.  



Veterans Homelessness
(Word Document, 15.23 KB)

Military Aircraft: Deployment

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of fast jets are able to be deployed into immediate action.

Mike Penning: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given in the House of Lords by the Minister of State for Defence in the Lords (Earl Howe) on 6 January 2017 to Questions HL4278 and HL4282.

Reserve Forces: Pay

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made on the effect on reservist recruitment and retention of paying reservists a quarter day's pay as opposed to a half day's pay for their evening's training.

Mark Lancaster: The Ministry of Defence has not carried out any specific research into a proposal to pay Reservists a half day's pay for training in the evening. The Future Reserves 2020 programme has delivered a significant improvement to the overall Reserves experience which has been demonstrated by improved recruitment numbers.

Armed Forces: Complaints

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average time taken was to conclude an internal formal complaint by each of the armed forces in each of the last three years.

Mark Lancaster: The following table provides the average number of weeks to conclude a Service complaint from the date of submission, in each year since 2014.  201420152016Naval Service20.015.017.0Army32.425.114.0Royal Air Force14.912.915.3

Ministry of Defence: Pay

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the level of earnings is of the (a) highest and (b) lowest-paid employees of his Department, its agencies and arms-length bodies; and what the median level of earnings is for such employees.

Mark Lancaster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 December 2016 to Question 56984 to the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Mr Berry).



56984 - WQnA extract on MOD Pay
(Word Document, 14.5 KB)

Armed Forces: Complaints

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many in-service complaints recorded by each of the armed forces included an oral hearing; and if he will detail the procedures for securing an oral hearing in each of the armed forces.

Mark Lancaster: The numbers of Service complaints last year which included an oral hearing are given below:   Naval Service1Army60Royal Air Force5  A complainant may request an oral hearing, but the final decision as to whether one will be held is determined on a case-by-case basis by the body appointed to decide the Service complaint. Full details of the policy position regarding oral hearings in Service complaints are set out in Joint Service Publication 831 ‘Redress of Individual Grievances: Service Complaints’, Part 2, Chapter 5, paragraphs 29 to 34. This publication can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jsp-831-redress-of-individual-grievances-service-complaints

Armed Forces: Complaints

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many internal formal complaints have been recorded by each of the armed forces in each of the last three years.

Mark Lancaster: Information on the numbers of Service complaints in calendar years 2014 and 2015 is available in the annual reports of, respectively, the Service Complaints Commissioner and the Service Complaints Ombudsman. These publications can be found at the following address:http://www.servicecomplaintsombudsman.org.uk/service-complaints-ombudsman/publications-and-reports/annual-reports/Figures for 2016 are currently being compiled for inclusion in the Service Complaints Ombudsman's annual report 2016.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Attendance Allowance

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the devolution of attendance allowance to local authorities on future regional variations in that allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of devolution of attendance allowance to local authorities on the future expenditure on that benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Marcus Jones: Holding answer received on 28 October 2016



As confirmed to the House on 23 January 2017, Official Report, column 69, devolving Attendance Allowance funding is no longer being considered as a part of the current business rates retention reforms.

Housing: Construction

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to release more publicly-owned land to local authorities for the building of homes.

Gavin Barwell: Holding answer received on 14 November 2016



Through its public sector land programme, the government plans to dispose of sufficient land for 160,000 homes over the course of this Parliament. Local authority land has the potential to make a real difference to local housing supply. For example, independent estimates suggest that a third of the land in Bristol is owned by local government bodies, and, although not all of this land will be suitable for development, this does offer potential to unlock land to help increase housing supply.

Social Services: Council Tax

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the amount that each local authority could raise if they employed use of the three per cent social care precept on council tax in the 2016-17 financial year.

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much additional revenue he estimates Salford City Council could receive as a result of increasing council tax rates by three per cent in the 2017-18 financial year.

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much additional revenue he estimates Salford City Council could receive by increasing council tax rates by three per cent in the 2016-17 financial year.

Mr Marcus Jones: Holding answer received on 09 January 2017



For the financial year 2016-17, the Government allowed local authorities with adult social care responsibilities to increase their council tax by 2% to help fund adult social care (the ‘Adult Social Care Precept’), in addition to the permitted 2% ‘core’ increase. Salford City Council set a 3.75% increase in 2016-17, of which 2% was for the Adult Social Care Precept. Please see:   www.gov.uk/government/statistics/council-tax-levels-set-by-local-authorities-in-england-2016-to-2017.Under new proposals announced as part of the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement on 15 December 2016, the Adult Social Care Precept for 2017-18 will be worth up to an additional 3%. Assuming that local authorities make full use of the 3% flexibility, the Adult Social Care Precept could generate more than £1 billion in total in 2017-18, and £4.4 million for Salford City Council.   The attached table shows the potential total of Adult Social Care Precept receipts in 2017-18, assuming that local authorities make full use of the 3% flexibility. Whether or not they wish to do so would be a matter for each council.



UIN58325 Adult Social Care Precept table
(Word Document, 133.5 KB)

Homelessness: Young People

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to Centrepoint's statement to The Independent newspaper of 9 January 2017, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of zero-hour contracts on the ability of young homeless people aged between 16 and 25 to escape homelessness in the long term.

Mr Marcus Jones: Holding answer received on 13 January 2017



The Government is committed to tackling youth homelessness and ensuring that young vulnerable people get the help they need to secure accommodation and find employment.That is why the Government has taken a range of steps, including investing £15 million in the Fair Chance Fund programme, which is currently supporting around 1,900 homeless 18-25 year olds with complex needs into accommodation, education, training and employment. We have also invested in other initiatives designed specifically to support young homeless people into accommodation so they have a stable platform for work. A great example of this is the £40 million Platform for Life programme, which provides affordable shared accommodation for homeless young people.We have also taken steps to ensure that zero hours contracts are used appropriately and not abused. Measures in the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 prohibit the use of exclusivity clauses or terms in any zero hours contract, which means employers cannot stop an individual looking for work or accepting work from another employer. On average, people on zero hour contracts work 25 hours a week and nearly 70 per cent of people on zero hours contracts do not want more hours, according to ONS figures.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2016 to Question 51988, on housing construction; when he plans to provide an Answer to that Question.

Gavin Barwell: I replied to the hon Member for Bristol West today.

Health Services: Non-domestic Rates

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the reasons are for business rate relief (a) being provided to private health companies and (b) not being provided to publicly funded health services.

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the effect of the level of business rates on NHS budgets.

Mr Marcus Jones: Any healthcare provider which is a charity and using their property wholly or mainly for charitable purposes will be entitled to 80% mandatory rate relief. Charities in the healthcare sector make an important contribution to our society and it is right they should benefit from mandatory rate relief.NHS properties, like almost all other buildings occupied by public bodies, have been subject to non-domestic rates since they were introduced. Operational costs related to property are taken into account at spending reviews in determining the overall level of funding for the NHS.A £3.6 billion transitional relief scheme will provide support for the minority of properties which face an increase in rates as a result of the 2017 revaluation, and applies equally to public bodies such as the NHS.

Housing: Construction

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to maintain payments of the New Homes Bonus at the current rate for those local authorities which use the funds received from that bonus to cover the cost of adult social care.

Gavin Barwell: The Government has introduced changes to the New Homes Bonus to sharpen the incentive effect of the Bonus to increase the delivery of new homes, whilst freeing up resources to be recycled within the local government settlement to support authorities with particular pressures in adult social care. We chose to take a moderate approach from the options we consulted on and to stage the changes to give authorities time to adapt their plans. The changes will apply to all authorities in the same way. Those areas who deliver the most housing growth will continue to benefit most from the Bonus under the new scheme and bonus payments will remain un-ringfenced so authorities can chose how to allocate the funding to meet local priorities The Government has given local authorities access to up to £7.6 billion in dedicated social care funding over the Spending Review period 2016/20. Taken together with the funding announced at the Spending Review 2015, these new changes mean that local government will have access to the funding it needs to increase social care spending every year in this Parliament.

Small Businesses: Non-domestic Rates

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received from small businesses and their trade bodies on the potential effect of business rates revaluation on their businesses.

Mr Marcus Jones: Holding answer received on 30 January 2017



In September 2016 we issued a consultation document on transitional relief for the 2017 revaluation. We received responses from ratepayers and organisations representing small businesses including the Federation of Small Businesses and the Association of Convenience Stores. A summary of responses is available on my Department's website at:www.gov.uk/government/consultations/business-rates-revaluation-2017Nearly three quarters of businesses will see no change or a fall in their bills from 1 April thanks to the business rates revaluation, with 600,000 businesses set to pay no business rates at all. A £3.6 billion transitional relief scheme will provide support for the minority who do face an increase.

Local Council Tax Support Schemes Independent Review

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he plans to respond to the findings of the Ollerenshaw review of local council tax support.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Department is carefully considering the recommendations made by Eric Ollerenshaw OBE. The Government’s response to the review’s findings will be published in due course.

Charities: Non-domestic Rates

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of organisations with charitable status that will be affected by changes in business rates to be introduced from April 2017 in (a) East Lancashire and (b) the UK.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Department is not able to estimate the effect of changes to business rates on organisations with charitable status because it does not hold information about which properties have charitable status. Eligibility for charitable rate relief is determined by local authorities.

Local Government Finance: Lancashire

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of its total annual budget Lancashire County Council received from the Local Government Grant (Local Government Finance Settlement), for each budget heading, in 2016-17; and what such proportion, by budget heading, that council has been allocated to receive in 2017-18.

Mr Marcus Jones: For 2016-17, Lancashire received £118.8 million in Revenue Support Grant (RSG) as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement. Lancashire had a budgeted Revenue Expenditure of £1.7 billion in 2016-17. RSG was equivalent to 7.1% of this budgeted figure.For 2017-18, Lancashire is provisionally set to receive £81.5 million in RSG. Local authority budget figures are not available for 2017-18. Budget Revenue Account figures are scheduled to be published in the summer.Revenue Support Grant is un-hypothecated. The funding has no specific conditions attached to it and any spend on services financed by the grant is not ring-fenced.Local authorities are best placed to assess, deliver and take decisions on financing the services their communities need, and are locally accountable for those decisions.

Parking: Fees and Charges

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of parking charges on low income families.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Department does not make an assessment of the effect of parking charges on low income families.Local authorities are responsible for determining local parking needs and setting parking charges which include considering potential impacts on local communities.

HM Treasury

Digital Technology: Infrastructure

Louise Haigh: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish a roadmap for the roll-out of the new Digital Infrastructure Investment Fund.

Mr David Gauke: The Chancellor announced at Autumn Statement 2016 that the government will commit £400m for a new Digital Infrastructure Investment Fund, at least matched by private finance, to invest in new fibre networks over the next 4 years. The fund will be managed independently by a private sector fund manager or managers, who will evaluate investment opportunities and make decisions on a commercial basis. The process to appoint a fund manager and launch the fund will be completed in due course.

Treasury: Pay

Jon Trickett: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the level of earnings is of the (a) highest and (b) lowest-paid employees of his Department, its agencies and arms-length bodies; and what the median level of earnings is for such employees.

Simon Kirby: The Office for National Statistics publish annually the highest and median salary for each Civil Service organization as part of the Civil Service Statistics. This information can be found on the Office for National Statistics website: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/medianpayannexb Earning levels for the lowest paid employee are not publically available.

Minimum Wage

Gloria De Piero: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employers in (a) Ashfield, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England were found to be paying employees below the national minimum wage in 2015-16; and what action was taken against those employers.

Jane Ellison: The Government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) receives it. Anyone who feels they have been underpaid NMW or NLW should contact the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) reviews all complaints that are referred to them. HMRC does not record statistics on complaints or the outcomes of its investigations by reference to Government regions, constituencies or counties. In 2015-16, HMRC recovered its highest ever total of arrears of almost £10.3 million for over 58,000 workers from 958 employers. Non-compliant employers are liable for penalties of up to 200% of the arrears owed to the worker, up to a maximum of £20,000 per worker. Furthermore, employer details are referred to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy for consideration of public naming under the Government’s NMW naming scheme for non-payment.

Cabinet Office

Drugs and Alcoholic Drinks

Paul Flynn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people died from the effects of (a) tobacco, (b) alcohol and (c) cannabis in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Alcohol / Tobacco Deaths
(PDF Document, 129.62 KB)

Department for International Trade

Banks: Loans

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many bank loans UK Export Finance protected by the NUTS 1 region in each year since 2009-10.

Mark Garnier: UK Export Finance’s (UKEF) range of products work through guaranteeing banks (either loans, bonds or letters of credit), providing a loan directly, or through insurance. UKEF records information on the region of the exporter for its trade finance products introduced in 2011 which provide a guarantee to a bank. These products cover contract bonds, working capital loans and letters of credit. They exclude UKEF guaranteed buyer credits. The number of trade finance facilities guaranteed by UKEF are listed by NUTS 1 region in the table below.NUTS 1 REGION2011/122012/132013/142014/152015/162016/17North East England0210445821North West England285219358Yorkshire & Humber26917107East Midlands0714144621West Midlands2539131816East of England0820233716Greater London15491615South East England05072404328South West England0171734208Wales02304039Scotland5716231620Northern Ireland000145

Overseas Trade: Mongolia

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking to promote bilateral trade between the UK and Mongolia.

Mark Garnier: The Department for International Trade (DIT) has a team in Mongolia which focuses on the significant opportunities in the mining, infrastructure, financial and professional services and education sectors. In 2016 DIT increased its activity in the market, and its support for British companies, by designating the mining opportunity as a High Value Campaign with a potential export value of £350m over the next 5 years and signing a memorandum of understanding with the Mongolian Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry. UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK’s export credit agency offers competitive finance and insurance to support UK exporters. UKEF has capacity to support UK exports to Mongolia and welcomes new applications for support.

Overseas Trade: South Africa

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking to promote bilateral trade between the UK and South Africa.

Mark Garnier: The Department for International Trade (DIT) has a dedicated trade promotion team in South Africa with offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The team focuses on High Value Campaigns targeting Agri-tech, Infrastructure, Aerospace and Defence & Security. Healthcare will also be a focus in the coming financial year. DIT South Africa also promotes the UK as an Inward Investment destination.UK Export Finance (UKEF) has over £1bn of risk appetite to support exports to South Africa and welcomes new applications for support. UKEF can also consider support where South African companies are buying from the UK and wish to finance purchases using the South African Rand.The British Chamber of Business in Southern Africa provides additional support for UK companies looking to export to South Africa as well as UK companies domiciled in South Africa.

Overseas Trade: South Africa

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the total bilateral trade between the UK and South Africa was in each of the last five years.

Mark Garnier: The value of bilateral trade between the UK and South Africa is shown in the table attached for the years 2010-2014. Data for 2015 are pending correction by ONS, so are not shown. 



 Bilateral trade between the UK and South Africa
(Word Document, 13.25 KB)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Lions: Hunting

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2017 to Question 59111, how many CITES import permits were returned used for lion trophies, rather than live lions, in each year since 2010.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Current records show in the calendar year 2015,19 CITES import permits were noted as ‘returned used’ for Lion (Panther leo). ‘Returned used’ is the notation used for a confirmed import into the UK. Current records show in the calendar year 2016, 3 CITES import permits have been noted as ‘returned used’ for Lion (Panther leo).* *It should be noted that each CITES import permit has a 6 month lifespan from date of issue to the date of expiry. A complete set of returns for permits issued in 2016 is therefore not available at this time. It should also be noted that there has only been a requirement for Lion (Panthera leo) hunting trophies to have import permits since the beginning of 2015.

Animal Feed: Pigs

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she plans to make to her EU counterparts on securing the right to retain the use of zinc oxide in piglet feed; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: At a recent meeting of the EU Standing Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products on 20 January, the UK presented the view that withdrawal of these products may have a significant negative impact on pig production. The scientific basis for recommendation of withdrawal of the products is to be re-examined by the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use. This process is expected to take two months. We will continue to engage with UK stakeholders and the Commission to ensure that the wider context of the impact of a withdrawal is fully considered, and to achieve the best outcome for all stakeholders, balancing availability of medicines with the need to manage all associated risks.

Africa: Ivory

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken to end the ivory trade in Africa.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The UK is committed to tackling poaching of elephants and illegal trade. We fully support the existing ban on international commercial trade in ivory under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). I attended the CITES Conference of Parties held in Johannesburg from 24 September to 5 October 2016, where the UK discussed elephant and ivory issues with a wide range of countries, including a number of African range states. At the conference, Parties agreed by consensus proposals on the closure of domestic ivory markets where they contribute to poaching or illegal trade and decisive action to strengthen National Ivory Action Plans, which help combat illegal ivory trade in key markets. In addition, proposals that could have led to the re-opening of international commercial trade in ivory were defeated. Poaching to supply the illegal trade in ivory is a major threat to elephants. The UK has played a leading role in efforts to combat this problem including initiating and supporting a series of global conferences. The UK was represented by the Secretary of State at the Hanoi Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade in Vietnam in November 2016, the third in the series. At this conference, countries committed to practical actions to tackle the illegal wildlife trade, including trade in ivory, building on commitments made at previous conferences in London and Kasane. In addition, the Secretary of State announced an additional £13 million for measures to tackle the illegal wildlife trade, doubling our investment. The UK regularly discusses action to tackle the illegal trade in wildlife with a number of key range states, as well as transit and consumer countries, and shares its expertise internationally to help combat illicit flows of ivory.

Water Companies: Competition

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to widen the markets of the water companies to enable home competition in areas where one sole provider has a monopoly.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government continues to support competition where the evidence demonstrates that customers will benefit. Ofwat’s recent analysis of the costs and benefits of extending competition to household customers is an important part of the evidence basis. Other evidence, including learning lessons from opening up retail competition for business water customers, will be important, before reaching a decision on extending competition to households.

Northern Ireland Office

Schools: Northern Ireland

Dr Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of integrated schooling programmes in Northern Ireland in promoting community cohesion since 2013.

Kris Hopkins: Integrated Education is a devolved matter and is primarily the responsibility for the Northern Ireland Minister of Education. It is for him and his department to assess the effectiveness of the programmes which are in place. However, this Government recognises the important contribution which integrated education has to play in promoting reconciliation and mutual understanding and is committed to supporting the Northern Ireland Executive in delivering its objectives in this important area. The Stormont House and Fresh Start Agreements identified up to £500 million of capital funding over 10 years to support shared and integrated education, and shared housing.

Public Expenditure: Northern Ireland

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the provision of public services of the absence of an agreed budget in Northern Ireland.

James Brokenshire: Agreeing a budget will be an important priority for the incoming Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that public services continue to be delivered for the people of Northern Ireland. If a Budget Act is not passed before the start of the new financial year, powers are available to the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Finance to continue funding public services.

Northern Ireland Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Annual Managed Expenditure component of the Northern Ireland Renewable Heat Incentive.

James Brokenshire: Northern Ireland is allocated a budget for renewable heat schemes proportionate to those in operation in Great Britain. Additional costs are for the NI Executive to meet from its other sources of funding.

Veterans: Northern Ireland

Scott Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on support for veterans who served in Northern Ireland.

Kris Hopkins: The Secretary of State and I have had several conversations with the Defence Secretary and other Ministers about this issue. This Government is clear about the duty of care we owe all our veterans, including those that served in Northern Ireland and we will ensure they get the support they need and deserve.

Department of Health

Analgesics

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost to the NHS has been of purchasing opioid painkillers in each of the last 10 years.

Nicola Blackwood: The net ingredient cost (NIC) to the National Health Service of opiod painkillers of items prescribed in the United Kingdom and dispensed in England in each of the last 10 years is provided in the following table: Cost of British National Formulary 4.7.2 opioid analgesics to the NHS, by primary and secondary care, in England, 2005-15 YearPrimary Care1 NIC (£, '000s)Secondary Care2 Cost (£, '000s)Total Cost (£, '000s)2005143,536.229,363.3172,899.52006177,677.231,384.3209,061.42007205,366.033,222.7238,588.72008212,354.833,118.0245,472.92009237,768.234,574.2272,342.42010265,503.134,972.6300,475.72011267,642.634,172.7301,815.32012272,440.234,601.4307,041.62013289,751.834,650.3324,402.02014304,771.234,666.6339,437.82015313,531.635,376.5348,908.2  Source: Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA); IMS HEALTH 2016: Hospital Pharmacy Audit Index Notes:1 NIC is the basic cost of a drug. It does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charge income.2 The cost of the medicines at NHS list price and not necessarily the price the hospital paid. May include drugs dispensed via hospital pharmacies to private patients in private wards within NHS hospitals.

Social Services: Costs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the cost of social care for elderly people.

David Mowat: Social care is a devolved matter. In England in 2015/16, 872,540 people already received long term support from their local authority to help meet the cost of their care and a further 245,255 received short term support. In addition, we remain committed to introducing a cap on care costs and extension of means tested support, which will be implemented from April 2020.

Autism: Children

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what non-educational support the Government provides to children with autism.

David Mowat: Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and local authorities have a responsibility to commission services that best meet the needs of their populations including those of the children and young people for whom they are responsible. Clinical commissioning groups commission health services which may be needed specifically by children with autism, such as paediatrics, therapies (such as speech and language therapy) and mental health services. Local authorities commission social care, and may offer short breaks needed by children with autism or their families.

Microplastics: Seas and Oceans

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the food chain of microplastics in the sea.

Nicola Blackwood: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been monitoring the scientific evidence concerning the occurrence and effects of microplastics in seafood. On the basis of current information, the FSA considers it is unlikely that the presence of the low levels of microplastic particles that have been reported to occur in certain types of seafood would cause harm to consumers. The FSA will continue to monitor and assess emerging information concerning microplastics in food.

Pregnancy

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the NHS provides advice to pregnant women on weight loss after birth.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the NHS provides advice to pregnant women on the prevention of heart disease.

Mr Philip Dunne: NHS Choices provides advice for new mothers on keeping fit and healthy with a baby, including exercise, healthy eating and weight loss. Details of that advice can be found here:http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/keeping-fit-and-healthy.aspx Advice from NHS Choices is also made available to expectant and new parents through Start4Life. The NHS Choices website has general information on weight loss including a free NHS Weight Loss guide, and extensive information on preventing heart disease including a section on ‘How to look after your heart’ available here:http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Healthyhearts/Pages/Lifestylechanges.aspx NHS Choices also includes detailed advice on congenital heart disease during pregnancy and what the mother-to-be should do to safeguard her own health and that of her child available at:http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/congenital-heart-disease-pregnant.aspx

NHS: Religious Discrimination

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on instances of discrimination against NHS staff related to their religious belief.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Department does not collect information on instances of discrimination against National Health Service staff resulting from their religious beliefs. We would expect all employers to ensure that staff are treated with respect.

Hospitals: Death

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the NHS is taking to reduce the number of deaths in hospitals related to treatment errors.

Mr Philip Dunne: On 13 December 2016 in his oral statement, Official Report, column 621 my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health set out a series of commitments for National Health Service trusts and foundation trusts to learn from deaths. All trusts will be required to publish evidence of learning and action that is happening as a consequence of that information. The new Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch will become fully established by April 2017 and will investigate certain incidents or accidents likely to generate lessons that will make NHS treatment and care safer.

Alzheimer's Disease: Statins

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Royal Colleges on the potential merits of the use of statins to treat Alzheimer's disease.

David Mowat: There have been no recent discussions between the Department and the Royal Colleges on the potential merits of the use of statins to treat Alzheimer’s disease. The responsibility for prescribing rests with the doctor or prescriber who has clinical responsibility for a particular aspect of a patient's care. Decisions on which drugs are prescribed should be based on clinical assessments made in line with the relevant guidelines and should take account of the individual clinical needs of patients.

NHS: Cybercrime

Dr Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which NHS organisations have been targeted by cyber attacks in each year since 2010.

Dr Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the cost to the NHS of cyber attacks in each year since 2010.

Nicola Blackwood: The Department and the National Health Service takes protection of data very seriously. The Government will respond shortly to the recent consultation on The National Data Guardian for Health and Care Review of Data Security, Consents and Opt-Outs, published 6 July 2016. The Department does not comment on security matters.

Fracking: Health Hazards

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answers of 21 November 2016 to Questions 54021, 54017, 54073 and 57074, which recommendations of the Director of Public Health at Lancashire County Council's rapid health impact assessment of the shale gas exploratory stage at Roseacre Wood and Preston New Road are relevant to Public Health England's responsibilities.

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answers of 21 November 2016 to Questions 54021, 54017, 54073 and 54074, what steps Public Health England is taking on the recommendations of the Director of Public Health at Lancashire County Council's rapid health impact assessment of the shale gas exploratory stage at Roseacre Wood and Preston New Road.

Nicola Blackwood: The Director of Public Health (DPH) at Lancashire County Council rapid Health Impact Assessment report was subsequently published at:http://council.lancashire.gov.uk/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=29552 The report included four recommendations with specific reference to Public Health England (PHE) as well as other Government Departments, Agencies or allied organisations (R2, R41, R43 and R45). PHE provided the DPH with an update on three of recommendations (R41, R43 and R45) in December 2016. PHE’s ongoing work includes the provision of advice to planning bodies and regulators to ensure that local concerns and public health risks are adequately addressed; attending local public engagement events and where requested assisting local agencies and partners in the investigation of health related concerns. PHE is also scoping the feasibility of health surveillance projects. Any such studies or investigations will require careful design consideration and engagement with relevant stakeholders, as well as appropriate resourcing. PHE continues to review the evidence on the potential public health impacts of emissions associated with shale gas extraction and aims to develop health impact assessment tools and guidance for local public health teams.

Lung Diseases: Health Services

Dr James Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2017 to Question 58880, whether any funding was allocated to support the NHS in implementing the advised changes in the management and care of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma; and in what financial years such funding was allocated.

David Mowat: No specific funding has been allocated to implement the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Asthma Outcomes Strategy.The National Health Service allocates funding to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) based on the age profile and needs of their population. For core CCG allocations, this includes a component for general and acute services. Spending on specific conditions is down to local clinical priorities set by the CCGs themselves.The General and Acute model, which is part of the CCG allocations formula, uses person-level hospital data to estimate the need and cost for acute hospital services. Therefore, if an area has high diagnoses of COPD and asthma, the model will estimate higher need for these and more money will be allocated accordingly. COPD, as part of chronic lower respiratory diseases, was included as one of the 152 morbidity / diagnosis indicators as a significant variable. It should be noted that these findings are part of larger sets joined together for use in the overall allocations formula.

General Practitioners

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 14 December 2016 to Question 56319, on general practitioners, for what reason his Department does not estimate patient number projections.

David Mowat: The Department uses population projections by the Office of National Statistics to assess changes in demand for general practice services. Health Education England (HEE) is responsible for ensuring that there is sufficient future supply of staff, including those needed in specialist fields such as general practice, to meet the workforce requirements of the English health system. Each year, HEE produces a National Workforce Plan for England. This builds upon the needs of local employers, providers, commissioners and other stakeholders who, as members of its Local Education Training Boards, shape their local plans. Demand forecasting is currently the responsibility of employers; it is an integral part of business planning and forms part of the Sustainable Transformation Planning process, led by NHS England.

Health: Finance

Johnny Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take following the removal of the target allocation for public health spending to assist (a) Plymouth City Council and (b) others disadvantaged in public health spend allocations to move towards fair share allocations.

Nicola Blackwood: The Department for Communities and Local Government consulted recently on whether the public health grant should be replaced by income from local authorities’ retained business rates. We will review the question of target allocations of funding for public health in the light of the outcome of that consultation.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to increase cervical screening uptake among women in (a) Newcastle, (b) the North-East and (c) England; and if he will make a statement.

David Mowat: Public Health England and its partners are carrying out a range of activities which will promote a clearer understanding of why uptake is different amongst various groups and also hopefully improve uptake. These activities include: - Gathering, synthesising and producing more evidence to inform and change practice;- Data and information – access to data, cleansing, benchmarking for providers, timely and useful information for commissioners;- Behavioural insight – communication with commissioners, providers, patients and public;- Commissioning levers – commissioning contracts in public health (Section 7a) and primary care, inclusion of work to increase uptake and decease inequalities in Section 7a specifications;- Partnership work – relationships with commissioners and providers, working with the charities to understand and improve access and awareness; and- Sharing best practice – what works well, evaluation and how to embed quality improvement. There is also the human papillomavirus (HPV) adolescent vaccination programme for girls which is well established in the United Kingdom and expected to have a significant impact on reducing cervical cancer. Since the start of the programme in 2008, more than 8.5 million doses of the HPV vaccine have been given in the UK, with close to 90% of eligible teenagers vaccinated.

General Practitioners

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 13 December 2016 to Question 56319, what the total cost to the public purse of the GP support scheme will be.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 13 December 2016 to Question 56319, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's policy on supplying additional doctors on the support offered to GP surgeries.

David Mowat: The General Practice Resilience Programme is a four year programme backed by £40 million investment, £16 million this financial year (2016/17). The General Practice Resilience Programme allows a wide menu of support to be delivered tailored to the needs of the practices prioritised for support. This could include backfill for doctors so that they can engage in planning and implementation of changes that will support longer term sustainability and resilience. As this is the first year of the programme and support is currently being delivered, it is too early to make an assessment of the effectiveness of the programme.

Brain: Tumours

James Cartlidge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2016 to Question 41422, what progress has been made by the task and finish working group for brain tumour research; and if he will make a statement.

Nicola Blackwood: The Department’s Task and Finish Working Group on Brain Tumour Research has met on 18 October 2016 and 30 January 2017, chaired by Professor Chris Whitty, the Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser. The Working Group will meet at least once more before September 2017 to review progress.

General Practitioners

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 14 December 2016 to Question 56319, for what reasons his Department chose to commit to providing an additional 5,000 doctors working in general practice by 2020.

David Mowat: The Government committed to an additional 5,000 doctors working in general practice by 2020 based on the Centre for Workforce Intelligence’s in-depth review of the general practitioner workforce, published in July 2014. This was a medium-term strategic review looking ahead to 2030, designed to provide an evidence base for forecasting workforce demand and supply. The report is available at the following link:http://www.cfwi.org.uk/publications/in-depth-review-of-the-gp-workforce

Royal Brompton Hospital: Heart Diseases

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost of the proposed closure of congenital heart disease services at Royal Brompton Hospital; and what the cost would be of (a) expanding provision elsewhere and (b) transferring staff and services as a result of that proposed closure.

Mr Philip Dunne: No decision has been made to close the congenital heart disease service at the Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust. NHS England will make a decision on its proposals for changes to adult and children’s congenital heart services in England following a consultation. It has worked, and will continue to work, with providers and other stakeholders to assess the impact of these proposals. NHS England intends to publish an impact assessment and other relevant information in due course.

Respiratory System: Health Services

Dr James Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding his Department has provided to support respiratory health strategic clinical networks in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12, (d) 2012-13, (e) 2013-14, (f) 2014-15 and (g) 2015-16.

David Mowat: There are no specific respiratory health Strategic Clinical Networks. Previously, some Strategic Clinical Networks have run voluntary respiratory activity but this has now ended. In the three years since NHS England formed, the overall budget for Strategic Clinical Networks has been:  2013-142014-152015-16Annual budget£ million£ million£ millionSenates & Clinical networks34.432.126.0

Organs: Donors

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the merits of the Welsh Government's policy of opt-out for organ donation; and if he will review the policy for organ donation in England.

Nicola Blackwood: We are monitoring the impact that the change in legislation in Wales has on donation rates. A seven year United Kingdom-wide organ donation and transplantation strategy was jointly published by the four UK health ministers and NHS Blood and Transplant in July 2013. In 2015/16 the highest ever deceased donor rate in the UK was recorded with 1,364 deceased donors resulting in 3,529 transplants.

South Africa: Health Services

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to promote cooperation and transfer of skills between the NHS and the health sector in South Africa.

David Mowat: The Department of Health in the United Kingdom agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Republic of South Africa (RSA) in May 2014 which includes action for RSA to attain Universal Health Coverage. The MoU is monitored by a joint action plan with the Ministry of Health in South Africa which includes specific activities around hospital governance, antimicrobial resistance, global health security, public health, regulation of medicine and devices and primary healthcare and others. The Department’s role is to steward the progression of these activities and to support and identify the right resources within its arm’s-length bodies for RSA to collaborate with to develop the skills within their health sector.

Department of Health: Standards

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2017 to Question 59918, whether he attended the Departmental Board meeting that took place after the publication of the NHS Annual Report and Accounts 2015-16.

David Mowat: He did not. His apologies were given and that meeting was chaired by the Permanent Secretary.

Health Professions: Vacancies

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which medical discipline has had the greatest vacancy rate in each year since 2010.

Mr Philip Dunne: The information is not held centrally.

Dental Services: Insolvency

Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many General Dental Council registered dentists have filed for bankruptcy since 2006; and how many dental practices with Limited status have filed for individual voluntary arrangements since 2006.

David Mowat: The Department does not hold information on how many General Dental Council registered dentists have filed for bankruptcy or how many dental practices with limited status have filed for individual voluntary arrangements.

Colorectal Cancer

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people between the ages of 50 and 60 years of age are diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer.

David Mowat: Data on the number of people diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancers can be found in the report “Cross-distribution of age at diagnosis and stage of cancer diagnosed in England during 2012 to 2014”, which is available at:http://www.ncin.org.uk/local_cancer_intelligence/local_cancer_intelligence

Prostate Cancer: Surgery

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many vacancies there were for prostate cancer surgeons in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012, (iv) 2013, (v) 2014, (vi) 2015 and (vii) 2016.

David Mowat: The information is not collected centrally. Individual trusts may hold this information. The provision of health services in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a devolved issue.

Prostate Cancer: Surgery

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average number of days is between the date when a patient is first diagnosed with prostate cancer for which surgery is advised and the date on which the first such surgery is available to such a patient in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012, (iv) 2013, (v) 2014, (vi) 2015 and (vii) 2016.

David Mowat: The information is not held centrally for England. Health is a devolved matter in the rest of the United Kingdom.

Joint Replacements

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the average waiting time for (a) knee and (b) hip operations in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) knee and (b) hip replacements have been carried out on the NHS in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were on the waiting list for (a) knee and (b) hip operations on the NHS in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: Such information as is available is shown in the following table. Hospital episode statistics are published by NHS Digital and give a detailed breakdown of the number of individual episodes of care by procedure, including knee and hip replacements, and waiting times between decision to admit and admission. The numbers of people on a waiting list to start consultant-led treatment at the end of each month are published by NHS England for high volume specialties, such as trauma and orthopaedics, but not for individual procedures. The numbers of people waiting for knee and hip replacements in each of the last five years is therefore not held centrally. Number of finished consultant episodes1 (FCEs) with a main2 or secondary3 procedure where a knee replacement4 or hip replacement5 has taken place in a National Health Service hospital, and the associated median waiting times in days from decision to admit to admission for these procedures6, 2011-12 to 2015-16.  Number of FCEsAverage median waiting time in days from decision to admit to admission Knee replacementsHip replacementsKnee replacementsHip replacements2011-1267,75191,06789832012-1366,29691,07383772013-1466,88293,91580762014-1568,93694,30578752015-1666,97492,3808176Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), NHS Digital Notes:An FCE is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year.The first recorded procedure or intervention in each episode, usually the most resource intensive procedure or intervention performed during the episode. It is appropriate to use main procedure when looking at admission details, (e.g. time waited), but a more complete count of episodes with a particular procedure is obtained by looking at the main and the secondary procedures.As well as the main procedure, there are up to 23 secondary procedure fields in HES that show secondary procedures performed on the patient during the episode of care.The following OPCS 4 codes were used to identify knee replacements: O18, W40-W42, W52-W54, W58, Z76, Z77, and Z84.The following OPCS 4 codes were used to identify hip replacements: W37-W39, W46-W48 and W93-W95.Time waited statistics from HES are not the same as published referral to treatment (RTT) time waited statistics. HES provide counts and time waited for all patients between decision to admit and admission to hospital within a given period. Published RTT waiting statistics measure the time waited between referral and start of treatment.

Prostate Cancer: Surgery

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of prostate cancer surgeons in England is trained to carry out prostate cancer surgery using robots.

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of prostate cancer surgeons who are trained to carry out prostate cancer surgery using robots use those robots more than once each week.

David Mowat: The information requested is not held centrally. It may be available directly from individual National Health Service trusts.

Arthritis

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made on the suitability of support provided for people living with arthritis.

David Mowat: On 24 July 2016 the National Clinical Audit for Rheumatoid and Early Inflammatory Arthritis 2nd Annual report 2016 was published. This report, which includes data from 1 February 2015 – 29 January 2016, assesses the quality of care by specialist rheumatology services using criteria derived from sources such as the Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality Standard, published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in June 2013.Commissioned on behalf of NHS England by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP), the audit is an important tool that helps commissioners and providers to scrutinise local services, highlight variation and drive improvement. For example, in terms of support provided to patients the latest audit report shows that:- 95% of patients agreed that they had a good experience of care, up from 78% in year one;- 66% of patients recalled being asked about work in the course of their consultation up from 42% in year one; and- 67 patients were offered education and self-management within one month of a diagnosis, up from 59% in year one. The full audit report and NICE Quality Standard can be viewed at the following links:www.hqip.org.uk/resources/rheumatoid-and-early-inflammatory-arthritis-2016 www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs33/resources/rheumatoid-arthritis-in-over-16s-2098604563909 NICE has also published a best practice Clinical guideline and corresponding Quality Standard for Osteoarthritis, both of which highlight the importance of self-management approaches and lifestyle advice in supporting patients to manage their condition.

Surgery: Robotics

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what average number of hours per year is each surgical robot used for operations.

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many robotic surgery machines there are.

David Mowat: The information requested is not held centrally. It may be available directly from individual National Health Service trusts.

Health: Equality

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment his Department has made of trends in health inequalities in England between 2005 and 2015; and what steps the Government is taking to reduce health inequalities for vulnerable NHS patients.

Nicola Blackwood: My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health sets out his assessment in his annual report which is published as part of the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts. His 2015-16 assessment was that there had been reasonably good progress but more remains to be done. NHS England has produced tools for clinical commissioning group (CCG) colleagues to help them in relation to health inequalities issues. Work is underway to develop further tools and NHS England has also organised webinars with CCG colleagues to discuss the tools. A programme of webinars is also underway with NHS England commissioners and policy colleagues to ensure they look through the health inequalities lens in all their work. This has been complemented by a capability training programme on equality and health inequalities for NHS England staff which is also due to be piloted with CCG colleagues in the spring.

Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many adult in-patient psychiatric beds there were in England in each quarter for which information is available in (a) 2015-16 and (b) 2016-17.

Nicola Blackwood: The total number of mental health beds in England for each quarter in 2015-16 and 2016-17 is published by NHS England and accessible via the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/bed-availability-and-occupancy/

Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many instances of readmission to in-patient psychiatric units there were in each of the last five years.

Nicola Blackwood: The following table shows the discharges and unplanned readmissions to in-patient psychiatric units in England for the two years the data is available. Discharges and Unplanned readmissions to mental health services within 30 days of a mental health inpatient discharge in people aged 17 and over in 2013 Reporting periodDischargesObserved readmissions2013/14111,99312,0062014/15113,45812,501 Source: NHS Digital. Clinical Commissioning Group OIS Indicator 3.16: Unplanned readmissions to mental health services within 30 days of a mental health inpatient discharge in people aged 17 and over. https://indicators.hscic.gov.uk/webview/

Clinical Psychologists

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many Band 7 NHS psychologists were employed between September 2015 and September 2016.

Nicola Blackwood: NHS Digital provides information on the number of psychologists employed in the National Health Service in England. The information in the following table provides the number of Band 7 psychologists employed between September 2015 and September 2016. Clinical Psychology staff on Agenda for Change Band 7 in NHS trusts and clinical commissioning groups in England as at 30 September for each specified yearFull-time equivalent  20152016Total Band 7 Clinical Psychology staff1,6941,770Source: NHS DigitalNotes: Full time equivalents figures are given as this is the most accurate measure of service capacity.

Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs: Misuse

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent on treatment for drug and alcohol addiction in 2016.

Nicola Blackwood: The Department for Communities and Local Government publishes statistics on local authority expenditure and total expenditure for drug and alcohol services in England. Links to the 2015/16 and 2016/17 data are below:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing-england-2016-to-2017-budget-individual-local-authority-datahttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing-england-2015-to-2016-individual-local-authority-data It is important to note that the expenditure on drug and alcohol services from the Public Health Grant may not reflect all the resources that a local authority may have used on drug and alcohol misuse. For example adult social care budgets can be used to help people as part of their recovery from drug and/or alcohol dependency.

Self-harm: Children

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people under 18 were admitted to hospital as a result of self-harm in 2016.

Nicola Blackwood: The requested data is not available in the format requested. NHS Digital collects all health data, including on self-harm, however in this case this refers to finished admission episodes, and cannot be interpreted in terms of number of people.